Protests Spark Over New Jersey ICE Facility Conditions
Protesters and authorities confronted each other outside a New Jersey detention center, Delaney Hall, on Monday. Demonstrators claim illegal immigrants are subjected to poor conditions inside the facility.
Participants tried to form a human chain outside the detention facility located in Newark. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill attempted to enter the building but was denied access, as reported by local sources.
“My request for access to Delaney Hall was formally denied this morning, raising serious questions about what they are trying to hide from public view,” Sherrill stated, according to Patch.
Governor Sherrill declared her long-standing opposition to private detention facilities. She committed to advocating for Delaney Hall’s closure and opposing any future mass detention facilities in New Jersey, including a proposed facility in Roxbury.
Surveillance equipment was visibly mounted outside Delaney Hall, operated by GEO Group for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as reported on May 10, 2025.
Some demonstrators threw water and yelled at ICE agents, according to WPIX-TV. Several protesters were detained, leading to verbal confrontations with ICE agents.
The crowd screamed phrases like “No more ICE!” and “Free them all!” while ICE agents directed them to relocate to a grassy area off the roadway.
Amid the protests, nearly 300 detainees inside Delaney Hall began hunger and labor strikes. They allege enduring harsh conditions and denied access to medical care and visits.
In a public letter acknowledged by nearly 300 detainees, they described enduring “inhumane” conditions — poor quality food and neglect in medical care.
The letter stated, “Initially, we ask for forgiveness for the way we entered the United States, but given the circumstances we were living in our countries, which placed our lives and those of some members of our families in danger, we feel vulnerable and, in a way, kidnapped—detained without justification—not to mention that we are being tortured physically and psychologically due to the poor food resources provided in these detention centers.”
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson informed Fox News Digital about detainees receiving meals, clean water, clothing, bedding, showers, soap, and toiletries daily. Additionally, they have phone access for legal and familial communication.
The spokesperson emphasized that meals undergo evaluation by certified dieticians and that ICE maintains higher detention standards than most U.S. prisons.
Family members have been vigilantly gathered outside the facility since Friday, focusing on supporting the detainees.
Multiple elected officials, including U.S. Senator Andy Kim, have corroborated the narrative of poor conditions and called for Delaney Hall’s closure on Monday.
In February 2025, Tricia McLaughlin, a former Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary, stated that the facility was housing individuals labeled as murderers, terrorists, child rapists, and members of MS-13 gang.
Several elected officials have recently visited or expressed concerns regarding Delaney Hall, contributing to the push for closure. These officials include Senator Andy Kim, Representatives Rob Menendez Jr., Nellie Pou, LaMonica McIver, Analilia Mejia, and Frank Pallone Jr.